Floor maintenance machines



May 29, 1962 w.-E. Hou 3,036,321

FLOOR MAINTENANCE MACHINES ATTO RN EY May 29, 1962 w. E. HOLT 3,036,321

FLOOR MAINTENANCE MACHINES Filed Sept. 6. 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY ilnited. tates 3,036,321 FLOR MAENTENANCE MACHINES William Ernest Holt, Holt Manufacturing Company, 1072 46th St., RR. 6, Box 308, Tampa, Fla. Filed Sept. 6, 1960, Ser. No. 54,154 8 Claims. (Cl. 15-50) The present invention relates in general .to the construction and operation of multi-purpose iioor maintenance machines, and more particularly, to improvements in the construction and operation of rug and carpet scrubbing and shampooing machines in which the shampoo solution tank is mounted directly on the motor housing.

In rug and carpet cleaning, it is customary to irst condition the rug to remove heavy dirt by a vacuum machine and then the rug pile is raised and straightened by a rotary scrubbing brush to condition the rug for the wet shampoo operation. A shampoo solution is then supplied to the brush bristles while the brush is rotated to work the solution into the base of the pile and remove the deep seated grime and grease. The foam is preferably then picked up by a vacuum device and the machine is then operated without any solution being supplied, to once more straighten and raise the pile which has become twisted by the rotating action of the scrubbing brush.

An over-the-motor location of the shampoo solution tank has been found to provide a better machine balance than locating the tank on the inclined operating handle of the machine. In each type however the solution is discharged from the tank by gravity through a manually controlled valve and delivered through tubing to an opening in the base housing of the machine, from which it drops onto the grooved and perforated back of the rotary brush and ows down the brush bristles to the rug surface.

Since the shampoo tank is needed during only part of the rug cleaning process, it is highly desirable that it be readily mountable on and detachable from the machine. The present invention is concerned with the provisions of an improved construction of the shampoo tank and connecting parts for iirmly securing the tank to the machine, but without requiring any change in the construction of the motor housing, the removal of any part thereof, or the use of special tools for this purpose. For this purpose, I have provided a special adapter ring which can be readily and securely clamped to the top plate of the motor housing and which is also constructed to receive projecting lugs mounted on the solution tank bottom and to lock the tank lugs in a holding position by a slight rotation of the tank.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed.

Of the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a rug and carpet scrubbing and shampooing machine with the shampoo tank `mounted in its operating position;

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevation of the adapter ring taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 is a bottom View of the adapter ring;

FIG. 4 is an elevation, partly in section, of the solution tank, adapter ring and motor housing assembly; and

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of solution tank and adapter ring as assembled.

The rug and carpet scrubbing and shampooing ma- 3,036,321 Patented May 29, 196.2

fice

chine illustrated in FIG. l is of the general type of tloor maintenance machine disclosed in my prior U.S. Patent No. 2,926,369 and comprises a cylindrical metallic housing 10 enclosing an electric motor (not shown) and an enlarged circular base housing 12 surrounding the upper portion of a removable rotary brush 14 arranged to rotate about a Vertical axis with the lower ends of the brush bristles in contact with the rug or carpet. A suitable dn've mechanism connects the electric motor to the rotary brush. A pair of machine-supporting wheels 16 are pivotally mounted on the rear portion of the base housing 12. An operating handle 18 is also pivotally mounted on the base housing 4and movable with the wheels between a lower inclined operating position and an upright storage position, as disclosed in said prior patent.

The motor housing 10 has a substantially ilat circular top plate 20 having `a peripheral depending ange 22 tting around and secured to the upper end of the housing 10. Suitable electrical connections 24 from .the motor to a control switch 26 on the operating handle permit the operation of the machine in a well known manner for scrubbing oor surfaces.

When the machine described is to be used for shampooing rugs or carpets, it can be readily converted for that purpose without changing or removing any of the described parts. This requires the addition of provisions for controll-ably supplying a shampoo solution to the brush bristles while the machine is in operation. As shown in FIGS. 2-5, a specially designed adapter ring 30 of cast aluminum is adapted to be seated on and detachably secured to the motor housing and in turn have a shampoo solution tank 50 seated on and detachably secured thereto. The adapter ring 30 is formed by an annular body member 32 having four arcuately spaced rectangular notches 34 formed in its inner periphery at diametrieally arranged locations. The peripheral edge portions between the notches 34 have short depending flanges 36, each of which has an inclined cam surface 36a extending downwardly from the lower side edge of the corresponding notch and a recessed section 36h arcuately spaced from the lower end of the surface 36a. Symmetrically arranged rubber spacer blocks 38 are secured to the underside of the ring at the outer side of each ange 36 and project downwardly below the level of the ange lower edge. The blocks 38 are designed to seat on the upper surface of the motor housing top plate and hold the bottom edge of the flanges 36 spaced therefrom suiciently to permit tank locking lugs hereinafter described to pass therebetween.

Along the outer periphery of the adapter ring 30 are fonmed four arcuately spaced depending outwardly eX- tending integral brackets 40 at diametrically spaced points. Clamping jaws 42 are detachably mounted on the underside of two adjacent brackets and provided with inwardly extending tapered projections 44 arranged to engage the bottom edge of the motor housing top plate flange 22. at spaced points when the adapter ring is mounted on the housing as described. The remaining pair of brackets 40 serve to rotatably support a pair of clamping cams 46 having projecting tongue portions 47 movable in a horizontal plane about corresponding vertical pivot pins 48 to engage the bottom edge of the top plate ange 22 at points diametrically opposite the clamping jaws 42 and thereby lock the adapter ring securely to the motor housing with the spacer blocks 38 seated on the top plate.

The cylindrical shampoo solution tank 50 is formed of stainless steel and provided with a separate cover 52 of suitable plastic material, such as polyethylene. The tank has a recessed bottom 53, so that the tank will iit over the upper surface of the adapter ring. A pair of crossed flat steel bars 54 are symmetrically arranged on and 'welded tothe bottom of the tank. The ends of each bar are bent downwardly and then outwardly to form resilient locking lugs 56 which are positioned to pass through corresponding notches 34 in the adapter ring.

With the .adapter ring 30 secured in position on the' motor housing, the solution tank can be quickly mounted,

by gravity to the base housing of the machine through a f tube V60*V connecting an outlet nipple 62 in the lower part of the tank to a nipple 64 mounted in the base housing 12 above the rotating brush. The base of the brush is grooved and perforated in a well known manner to permit the solution `falling -thereon to ow downwardly over the brush bristles to the rug or carpet to be shampooed. The o'w of solution to the brush is controlled by the machine operator by a lever operated control valve 66 mounted on the outlet nipple 62 and a cable 68 secured lto the valve lever'and a rod 70 passing through a guide bracket 72 clamped to the upper part of the operating handle 18. The upper end ofthe 'rod 70 is formed in au operating ring 74 and covered with a rubber sleeve 76 of suicient diameter to prevent the rod 70 from dropping through the gui-de bracket when the ring is released. An upward pull on the ring 74 moves the valve lever to actuate the valve and cause a ilow ofV `solution from the tank 50, and releasing the Vring causesxthe valve to close.

The described tank assembly is of relatively low cost, easy to manufacture, readily assembled and disassembled, and lsintuple and effective in operati-on. When the tank is in use, there is no disturbance of the machine balance. The machine can advantageously be put in its storage position with 4the operating handle VYupright and the support wheels in their lowered position, `(while the solution tank is in its mounted position. Y

While in accordance with the provisions of the statutes I have illustrated and described 'herein the best form of the invention now known to me, thoserskilled in the art will understand that changes Vmay beA made in the form o'f the apparatus disclosed Without departing from the spirit yof the invention covered by the claims, and that certain features of the invention may sometimes be usedto advantage without a corresponding use of other features. Y Y

What is claimed is: s

1. A licor maintenance machine comprising'aY cylindrical electric motor housing having a circular tcp plate with a depending circular ange'overlapping said motor housing, an 'enlarged circular base housing depending from Vsaid motor housing, a horizontally arranged rotaryV surto t through corresponding notches and engage the under- Y side of the inner peripheral portion of said adapter ringV on relative rotation of said tank and adapter ring. 1 Y

2. A'oor maintenance machine comprising a cylindrical electric motor housing "having a circular top plate with a depending circular flange overlapping said motor` housing, an enlarged circular base housing depending from said motor housing, a horizontally arranged rotary sur-Y the lower edge of said top plate circular ange, arcuately spaced notches formed in the inner periphery of said adapter ring, and a tank mounted on said adapter ring and having spaced projecting lugs on its bottom arranged to tit thro-ugh corresponding notches and engage the underside of the inner peripheral portion of said adapter ring on relative rotation of said tank and adapter ring.

3. A rug and carpet scrubbing and shampooing machine comprising a cylindrical electric motor housing having a circular top plate with a depending circular flange overlappingsaid motor housing, an enlarged circular base housing depending from said motor housing, a horizontally arranged rotary surfacing element positioned in said base housing, an operating handle mounted on said base housing, an annular adapter ring arranged to seat on said top plate and engage the lower edge of said top plate circular ange, arcuately spaced notches formed in the inner periphery of said adapter ring, a shampoo solution tank mounted on said adapter ring and having spaced projecting lugs on its bottom arranged to tit through corresponding notches and engage the underside of the inner peripheral portion of said adapter ring on relative rotation of said tank and adapter ring, conduit means connecting the lower portion of said tank to said base housing, and a control valve lin said conduit means.

4. A rug kand carpet scrubbing and shampooing machine comprising a cylindrical electric motor housing having a circular top plate -With a depending circular tlange overlapping said motor housin an enlarged circular base housing depending from said motor housing, a horizontally arranged rotary surfacing element positioned in said base housing, an operating handle mounted on said base housing, an annular adapter ring havi`ng symmetrically arranged pairs of fixed jaw clamps and pivoted clamping cam members on its underside arranged to seat on said top plate and engage the lower edge of said top plate circularV flange, arcuately spaced notches formed in the inner periphery of said adapter ring, a shampoo solution tank mounted on said adapter ring and having spaced projecting lugs on its bottom arranged to iit through corresponding notches and engage the underside of the inner peripheral portion of said adapter ring on relative rotation of said tank and adapter ring, conduit means connecting the lower portion of said tank to said base housing, and a control valve in said conduit means.

5. A rug and carpet scrubbing and shampooing machine comprising a cylindrical electric motor housing having a circular top plate with a depending circular flange overlapping said motor housing, an enlarged circular base housing depending from said motor housing, ya horizontally arrangedsrotary surfacing element positioned in said base housing, an operating handle pivotally mounted on said base housing arranged for movement between a lower inclined operating positionV and an upright storage position, lan annular, Vadapter ring `having symmetrically arranged pairs of fixed jaw clamps and pivoted clamping camvmembers on its underside arranged to seat on said top plate and engage the lower edge of said top plate circular iiange, arouately spaced notches formed in the inner peripheryrof said adapter ring, a shampoo solution tank mounted on said adapter ring and having spaced U-projecting lugs on Vits bottom arranged to titV through facing element positioned in said base housing, an operat- Y ing handle 'mounted on said base housing, an annular. Y

adapter ring having symmetrically .arranged pairs of Xed jaw clamps and pivoted Vclamping ycam members on its underside arranged to seat on said top plate and engage corresponding notches and engage the underside of the inner peripheral portion of said adapter Vring Yon relative rotation of said tank and adapter ring, conduit means connecting the lower portion of said tank'to said base inner periphery adapted to receive a corresponding holding lug inserted through said notch and passing over said flange on relative rotative movement of said ring and supported device, a series of symmetrically arranged arcuately spaced support brackets depending from the outer periphery of said body member, a pair of fixed jaw clamps mounted on the underside of a pair of adjacent support brackets, land a pair of clamping cam members rotatably mounted on the underside of a pair of said support brackets diametrically opposite corresponding jaw clamps and adapted to cooperate therewith to hold said adapter ring in position on a subjacent support.

7. An adapter ring comprising an annular body member having ia plurality of arcuately spaced notches formed in its inner periphery adapted to receive corresponding holding lugs on a device to be supported by said ring, a depending ilange on the underside of said body member inner periphery having an inclined cam surface descending from each of said notches and -a recessed portion adjacent the end of each cam surface adapted to receive a corresponding holding lug inserted through said notch and passing over the adjacent cam surface on relative rotative movement of said ring and supported device, a series of arcuately spaced support brackets depending from the outer periphery of said body member, clamping means mounted on the underside of a pair of adjacent 2 support brackets, and a pair of clamping cam members 8. An adapter ring comprising an annular body meniber having `a plurality of arcuately spaced notches formed in its inner periphery adapted to receive corresponding `holding lugs on a device to be supported by said ring, a depending flange on the underside of said body member inner periphery having an inclined cam surface descending from each of said notches and a recessed portion adjacent the end of each cam surface adapted to receive `a corresponding holding lug inserted through said notch and passing over the adjacent cam surface on relative rotative movement of said ring and supported device, a series of symmetrically arranged arcuately spaced support brackets depending Afrom the outer periphery of said body member, -a pair of fixed jaw clamps mounted on the underside of a pair of adjacent support brackets, and a pair of clamping cam members rotatably mounted on the underside of a pair of said support brackets spaced from corresponding jaw clamps and adapted to cooperate therewith to 4hold said adapter ring in position on a subjacent support.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,591,282 Cech `lilly 6, 1926 2,893,037 Strong July 7, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 847,245 France June 26, 1939 

